Previously submitted to: JMIR Research Protocols (no longer under consideration since Sep 04, 2025)
Date Submitted: Sep 3, 2024
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
The Women’s Wellness After Giving Birth Program (WWAGBP): A pilot study protocol
ABSTRACT
Background:
The transition to parenthood is a memorable yet vulnerable time for mothers' physical and mental health, placing women after giving birth at risk of postpartum depression. Prevalence of common perinatal mental disorders or postpartum depression among Vietnamese women after giving birth remains high, with potential long-term consequences for mothers' mental health, children's development, and family relationships. Supportive programs to prevent mental illness and promote mental health are, therefore, essential.
Objective:
The 12-week women's wellness after giving birth program aims to provide evidence-based knowledge and support for women after giving birth to reduce risk of postpartum depression while improving overall quality of life. This protocol guides a pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of a health education package for Vietnamese women after giving birth.
Methods:
Following ethical approval, 30 Vietnamese women after giving birth will be invited to participate in a wellness program. Participants will be able to access a free online platform featuring evidence-based information delivered through infographics, podcasts, pop-up key messages and videos. They can provide feedback and request professional help while receiving daily reminders via emails.
Results:
Qualitative outcome measures will include participants' feedback and experience regarding feasibility and usability of the program while results from self-reported online survey using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) will reveal the risk of postpartum depression and the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) will indicate quality of life of participants at week 6 and week 12.
Conclusions:
This innovative intervention is the first of its kind in Vietnam to support women's wellness after giving birth. Findings will help refine and optimize the program and provide valuable information on its effectiveness in promoting mental health, improving quality of life, and reducing the risk of postpartum depression among Vietnamese women after giving birth.
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